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Auxiliary electric heaters sold as a component in various models of Trane and American Standard b...

CPSC Recall #99-158 — August 17, 1999

Recall Summary

Recall Number99-158
Recall DateAugust 17, 1999
Remedy Type—
Units Affected9,900

Where It Was Sold

Independent installers of Trane and American Standard equipment sold these accessory heaters nationwide from October 1997 through May 1999 for between $250 and $400.

Product

Auxiliary electric heaters sold as a component in various models of Trane and American Standard brand air handlers for heating and air conditioning systems

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Trane Company, of Tyler, Texas, a division of American Standard Inc., is voluntarily recalling 9,900 accessory electric heaters. These heaters are used to provide supplemental heat in heat pump or electric heating systems. Whether in the cooling, fan, heating or off mode, incorrectly routed wires can cause the accessory heater to continually cycle on and off. Excessive heat could catch nearby combustibles on fire. Trane and American Standard are aware of four reports of heaters continually running. No property damage or injuries were reported. These auxiliary electric heaters were sold as a component in various models of Trane and American Standard brand air handlers for heating and air conditioning systems. The air handler is the indoor component of the consumer's air conditioning or heating system. The air handler is a painted metal cabinet, which has the Trane or American Standard nameplate on its front. The nameplate provides a list of accessory electric heater model numbers that could be installed in that air handler. The model numbers for the recalled units are BAYHTR1419A and B. The model numbers for air handlers that may contain the recalled heater units are:   Subject Model Numbers TWG048A140A* TWG060A150A*         TWV036B140A* TVF036A140A*         TWE030C140A,B* TWE030C140F* TWE030C14FB* TWE036C140A,B* TWE036C140F* TWE036C14FB* TWE042C140B,C* TWE042C14FB,C*   TWE048C140A,B* TWE048C140F* TWE048C14FC* TWE060C15FC,D*     TWE060D150A,B*           TWE030P130A,B* TWE030P13FA,B*   TWE036P130A,B* TWE030P13FA,B*   TWE042P130A,B* TWE042P13FA,B*   TWE048P130A,B* TWE048P13FA,B*   TWE060P130A,B* TWE060P13FA,B*   TWE063P130A,B* TWE063P13FA,B*         TWE031E13FA,B*     TWE037E13FA,B*     TWE040E13FA,B*     TWE065E13FA,B*     * All models have a single arabic digit after this final letter Independent installers of Trane and American Standard equipment sold these accessory heaters nationwide from October 1997 through May 1999 for between $250 and $400. Consumers should remove any combustible material from around the air handlers with recalled heaters. Consumers with one of these electric heaters should call their local independent Trane or American Standard dealer, listed in your local yellow pages, for a free inspection and repair, if needed. For assistance in locating a local independent dealer, contact Trane at (888) 556-0125 between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday. Consumers also can get information on finding a local dealer online at http://www.trane.com/residential/personaltouch/recall.asp.

Hazard

Whether in the cooling, fan, heating or off mode, incorrectly routed wires can cause the accessory heater to continually cycle on and off. Excessive heat could catch nearby combustibles on fire.

Incidents & Injuries

Trane and American Standard are aware of four reports of heaters continually running. No property damage or injuries were reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should remove any combustible material from around the air handlers with recalled heaters. Consumers with one of these electric heaters should call their local independent Trane or American Standard dealer, listed in your local yellow pages, for a free inspection and repair, if needed.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a remedy at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (refund, replacement, or repair) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.

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